Supreme One Two
Kenilworth 3rd August: The going was heavy in Cape Town on Sunday where the fastest of the three 1200m events was the pinnacle stakes won by SILVER BLUFF. Mike Stewart’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon up with the speed. He began to assert his authority shortly after passing halfway and although the well-supported TWENTYMANJONES (7/1 into 33/10) ran on stoutly over the final 300m he did have that one held by a length and three quarters at the wire.
There were also three races run over 1600m and fastest against the clock here was ASHTON PARK when also winning a pinnacle stakes. On leaving the stalls it was the hat-trick seeking BLARNEY BAY who not surprisingly elected to set the pace, whilst Mike Bass’ charge raced close up in fifth. He made his move early in the short old course straight and won well from the running on JOHNNY ROCKETS after striking the front 200m out.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by MISTICO LADY in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 1100m. Taken straight to the front by Dansile Wana, the 3yo daughter of Judpot led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three and a quarter.
The Final Fling Stakes over 1800m topped the bill and victory in this Gr3 weight for age event went to the best weighted runner in the race JET SUPREME. Well supported on course into 13/10 from 18/10, Justin Snaith’s charge was always handy. She put her head in front 60m out and just had enough in hand to hold off her stable companion ACROSTAR. The runner up came from the rear and fairly flying after having to switch out for a run 200m from home, she only failed to get up by a short head.
Titbits
PETARA and CHAPPEL HILL both ran on stoutly from the rear when 1st & 2nd respectively in the MR76 Handicap over 1600m.
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That’s The Spirit
Vaal 4th August: Favourite backer’s got off to a good start at Monday’s sand meeting when ALL JAMMED UP did the business in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 1200m. Backed into 12/10 from 18/10 at the track, St John Gray’s charge was soon up handy. She was visibly cruising as she took up the running 200m out and went on to provide Kyle Venter with his first win very easily by four.
The only other race on the card over 1200m was the MR76 Handicap in which the lightly raced 4yo MIDNITE SPIRIT made it two from three. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 16/10 (op 5/2) the daughter of Newton led from pillar to post. She found extra when challenged strongly by both TELL MY STAR and LADY JUSTICE and went on to win fair and square by a neck.
The faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the conditions plate for the boys in which the odds on favourite JADE BAY got rolled. Backed into 7/20 at one stage after the scratching of what looked to be his only serious rival in the betting market, Jade Bay as expected attempted to make all. He didn’t set off with his usual zest after jumping awkwardly though, and was later reported as having overreached and making a respiratory noise. SALUTE THE SUN on the other hand quickened nicely as the favourite began to fade and won well after striking the front 150m from home.
The recently crowned champion jockey S’manga Khumalo had just the one ride and that was on TERRA MARIANNA in the final event on the eight race program, a MR64 Handicap over 1800m. Allowed to ease out to 5/1 from 7/2jtfav at the track, Sean Tarry’s charge raced fourth for most of the journey. She responded well when asked for her effort 500m out and after hitting the front 150m later she went on to win comfortably from the running on duo of FRENCH APPROVAL and BERMUDA BOWL.
Titbits
TIGER QUEST made all when winning the girl’s division of the conditions plate over 1000m with authority.
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Comparatively Very Fast
Scottsville 5th August: A half of the races in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR88 Handicap in which the well-supported SHE’S A STUNNER registered her sixth career victory. Allowed to flirt with 15/10 at one stage after opening up at 3/1, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon at the helm. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and won very comfortably by a length and three quarters from the deposed favourite GERMAN LADY (14/10 out to 5/2).
A maiden plate for 3yo’s over the same distance had gotten proceedings underway and in a time just 0,24 of a second slower than that of She’s A Stunner we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced SCUDETTO. Deep in the red at 3/10 on the off the son of Dynasty also led from pillar to post. He was always travelling well and with some in hand he easily accounted for the newcomer THESEUS.
Another to win particularly well in the maiden ranks on this card was the 3yo son of Fort Beluga KING’S AFFAIR in the boy’s division over 1600m. One of two winners on the card for trainer Garth Puller, King’s Affair raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the straight and after taking up the running 200m out, he went on to win going away by two and three quarters.
Titbits
ARABIAN NATIONAL gained his fourth career success from just nine starts when winning the MR77 Handicap over 1000m very comfortably by a length and three quarters.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: (7) Sun Silk Star 17
Race 2: (4) Lithuanian Queen 13 (EW)
Race 3: (7) All The Bids 26
Race 4: (3) Wild Lord 24
Race 5: (10) Solomons Wall 33
Race 6: (4) Dynamite Star 37
Race 7: (5) Van Loveren 36
Race 8: (4) Princess Creo 45
Race 9: (3) Erotic Pulse 48
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (1) Viking Castle 14
Race 2: (2) Mind Games 10
Race 3: (1) Crown Bearer 16
Race 4: (7) Matthew Ethan 51
Race 5: (5) Noble Star 60
Race 6: (1) Call Kelly 41
Race 7: (7) Final Score 56
Race 8: (2) Toughnuttocrack 20
Scottsville
Race 1: (15) Travelling Mullins 16
Race 2: (5) Lily Gray 12
Race 3: (1) Field Cat 10
Race 4: (6) Highland Fling 36
Race 5: (8) Magical Dynasty 36
Race 6: (5) Pyrotechnics 72
Race 7: (8) Al Sayaaf 64
Race 8: (1) Yuries Gold 13
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (2) Wild Thing 2
Race 2: (11) Unparalleled 17 (NAP**)
Race 3: (5) Daggons Hall 12
Race 4: (2) Tzigane 68
Race 5: (1) Shadow Ofhis Smile 64 (nb)
Race 6: (2) Where’s My Chop 55
Race 7: (6) Tell My Star 28
Race 8: (9) Impeccable 40
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Top rated winners last week included
Sammy Silver won 33/1
Threshold won 25/1
Lucky Hand won 16/1
Ashton Park won 7/1
Salute The Sun won 4/1
Double Whammy won 3/1
She’s A Stunner won 16/10
Jet Supreme won 13/10
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Notebook:-
Acrostar (J Snaith, W-Cape)
Scudetto (K Naidoo, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Kenilworth (old) 3rd August
Penetrometer 33 – Going Heavy
1000m (1) Simply Black 61,31*
1100m (1) Mistico Lady 69,58
1200m (3) Silver Bluff 74,70
1400m (1) Bianzino 90,69
1600m (3) Ashton Park 102,12
1800m (1) Jet Supreme 117,26
Vaal (sand) 4th August
Going Standard
1000m (2) Salute The Sun 59,11
1200m (2) Midnite Spirit 73,86
1450m (2) Panjo 89,36
1600m (1) General Custer 102,97
1800m (1) Terra Marianna 117,30
Scottsville (inside) 5th August
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Arabian National 57,18
1200m (4) She’s A Stunner 69,63
1600m (2) King’s Affair 97,29
2400m (1) Royal Colours 153,70
